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Afghan Army soldier Ahmad, 20, pauses as he cleans his weapon after a shooting training at a training center on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan on Wednesday, May 8, 2013. In roughly 90 percent of the country, Afghan police and soldiers are taking the fight to the Taliban alone, a first in 12 years of war. U.S. and NATO soldiers have slipped quietly into the background, taking on the role of advisor and providing backup when needed. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

Afghan Army soldiers line up at a training facility in the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan on Wednesday, May 8, 2013. In roughly 90 percent of the country, Afghan police and soldiers are taking the fight to the Taliban alone, a first in 12 years of war. U.S. and NATO soldiers have slipped quietly into the background, taking on the role of advisor and providing backup when needed. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

Afghan Army soldiers line up at a training facility in the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan on Wednesday, May 8, 2013. In roughly 90 percent of the country, Afghan police and soldiers are taking the fight to the Taliban alone, a first in 12 years of war. U.S. and NATO soldiers have slipped quietly into the background, taking on the role of advisor and providing backup when needed. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

An Afghan Army soldier mans his position during a house-to-house search at a training facility in the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan on Wednesday, May 8, 2013. In roughly 90 percent of the country, Afghan police and soldiers are taking the fight to the Taliban alone, a first in 12 years of war. U.S. and NATO soldiers have slipped quietly into the background, taking on the role of advisor and providing backup when needed. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

Afghan Army soldiers train for a house-to-house search at a training facility in the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan on Wednesday, May 8, 2013. In roughly 90 percent of the country, Afghan police and soldiers are taking the fight to the Taliban alone, a first in 12 years of war. U.S. and NATO soldiers have slipped quietly into the background, taking on the role of advisor and providing backup when needed. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

An Afghan Army soldier pauses before dropping his helmet and his gun next to his comrade's equipment at a training facility in the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan on Wednesday, May 8, 2013. In roughly 90 percent of the country, Afghan police and soldiers are taking the fight to the Taliban alone, a first in 12 years of war. U.S. and NATO soldiers have slipped quietly into the background, taking on the role of advisor and providing backup when needed. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

Hamidullah, a 20-year-old frightened-looking gunshot victim, who is suspected of being a Taliban, is handcuffed to the steel frame of his hospital bed at the ANA military hospital at the Kandahar Air Base in Kandahar, Afghanistan on Sunday, April 21, 2013. After being wounded in a battle between Taliban, Afghan and American soldiers, Hamidullah was transferred with multiple gunshot wounds first to the U.S. led coalition hospital and later to the Afghan military hospital, all the while believing he could be a Taliban. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

Hamidullah, a 20-year-old gunshot victim, who is suspected of being a Taliban, is handcuffed to the steel frame of his hospital bed at the ANA military hospital at the Kandahar Air Base in Kandahar, Afghanistan on Sunday, April 21, 2013. After being wounded in a battle between Taliban, Afghan and American soldiers, Hamidullah was transferred with multiple gunshot wounds first to the U.S. led coalition hospital and later to the Afghan military hospital all the while believing he could be a Taliban. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

Afghan Army doctors treat an injured Afghan Army soldier at the emergency room of the ANA military hospital at the Kandahar Air Base in Kandahar, Afghanistan on Sunday, April 21, 2013. The Afghan NGO Safety Office issued a report in April 2013 saying that the current re-escalation trend in Afghanistan will be preserved throughout the entire season and that 2013 is set to become the second most violent year after 2011, which suffered 2,755 such attacks in the first three months of the year. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

Afghan Army doctors treat an injured soldier at the emergency room of the ANA military hospital at the Kandahar Air Base in Kandahar, Afghanistan on Sunday, April 21, 2013. The Afghan NGO Safety Office issued a report in April 2013 saying that the current re-escalation trend in Afghanistan will be preserved throughout the entire season and that 2013 is set to become the second most violent year after 2011, which suffered 2,755 such attacks in the first three months of the year. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

Afghan Army soldiers pass through the emergency room in the ANA military hospital at the Kandahar Air Base in Kandahar, Afghanistan on Sunday, April 21, 2013. The Afghan NGO Safety Office issued a report in April 2013 saying that the current re-escalation trend in Afghanistan will be preserved throughout the entire season and that 2013 is set to become the second most violent year after 2011, which suffered 2,755 such attacks in the first three months of the year. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

Two injured Afghan Army soldiers relax outside the ANA military hospital at the Kandahar Air Base in Kandahar, Afghanistan on Sunday, April 21, 2013. The Afghan NGO Safety Office issued a report in April 2013 saying that the current re-escalation trend in Afghanistan will be preserved throughout the entire season and that 2013 is set to become the second most violent year after 2011, which suffered 2,755 such attacks in the first three months of the year. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

An Afghan Army soldier rests his helmet on the ground while cleaning his weapon along with other soldiers at a training facility in the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan on Wednesday, May 8, 2013. In roughly 90 percent of the country, Afghan police and soldiers are taking the fight to the Taliban alone, a first in 12 years of war. U.S. and NATO soldiers have slipped quietly into the background, taking on the role of advisor and providing backup when needed. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

An Afghan Army soldier mans his position during a house-to-house search at a training facility in the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan on Wednesday, May 8, 2013. In roughly 90 percent of the country, Afghan police and soldiers are taking the fight to the Taliban alone, a first in 12 years of war. U.S. and NATO soldiers have slipped quietly into the background, taking on the role of advisor and providing backup when needed. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

An Afghan Army soldier rests while cleaning his weapon after a shooting training at a training center on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan on Wednesday, May 8, 2013. In roughly 90 percent of the country, Afghan police and soldiers are taking the fight to the Taliban alone, a first in 12 years of war. U.S. and NATO soldiers have slipped quietly into the background, taking on the role of advisor and providing backup when needed. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

Afghan Army soldiers march during a practice session at a training facility in the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan on Wednesday, May 8, 2013. In roughly 90 percent of the country, Afghan police and soldiers are taking the fight to the Taliban alone, a first in 12 years of war. U.S. and NATO soldiers have slipped quietly into the background, taking on the role of advisor and providing backup when needed. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

A military instructor adjusts the helmet of an Afghan Army soldier during a house-to-house search at a training facility in the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan on Wednesday, May 8, 2013. In roughly 90 percent of the country, Afghan police and soldiers are taking the fight to the Taliban alone, a first in 12 years of war. U.S. and NATO soldiers have slipped quietly into the background, taking on the role of advisor and providing backup when needed. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

An Afghan Army soldier passes by stretchers outside the ANA military hospital at the Kandahar Air Base in Kandahar, Afghanistan on Sunday, April 21, 2013. The Afghan NGO Safety Office issued a report in April 2013 saying that the current re-escalation trend in Afghanistan will be preserved throughout the entire season and that 2013 is set to become the second most violent year after 2011, which suffered 2,755 such attacks in the first three months of the year. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

Afghan Army soldiers clean their weapons after a shooting training at a training center on the outskirts of Kabul, Afghanistan on Wednesday, May 8, 2013. In roughly 90 percent of the country, Afghan police and soldiers are taking the fight to the Taliban alone, a first in 12 years of war. U.S. and NATO soldiers have slipped quietly into the background, taking on the role of advisor and providing backup when needed. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

Photos: Afghan soldiers take lead as U.S. backs out

U.S. and NATO soldiers have slipped quietly into the background in Afghanistan, taking on the role of advisor and providing backup when needed. In roughly 90 percent of the country, Afghan police and soldiers are taking the fight to the Taliban alone, a first in 12 years of war.